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When it comes to eye health most parents don't realise 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to harmful UV light happens before the age of 18 according to the World Health Organisation and physical differences make children's eyes more susceptible to sun damage than adults.

Firstly, children's pupils are larger than those of adults, meaning they let in more UV light. Secondly their eyes are not yet fully developed, so they have less natural protection from the harmful effects of UV light.

Emily Macdonagh, a junior doctor and mum of two married to singer Peter Andre, is supporting a campaign to protect children's eyes from harmful UV light

The new research, conducted by children's eyewear brand monkey monkey, says 10% of parents don't bother with kids' glasses at all, even though nearly half (44%) of children have complained at about sore eyes after they've been in the sun.

More children are likely to wear glasses on holiday (73%) or at the weekend (66%), and just 37% wear sunglasses to school.

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Ms MacDonagh, who lives in Surrey, said: "I have two little ones aged 4 and 1 and they love playing outside when the weather's good so it's really important to me that I keep their eyes safe from the UV rays.

"With all the time they spend outdoors, it's thought that kids have three times the exposure to damaging ultra violet light than adults so its crucial that when the suns out, kids get their sunnies on.

"I think some mums might be unsure about whether their kids would actually wear sunglasses and I would say in answer to that, you don't know unless you try and kids are actually really up for trying new things.

"Children are thought to be exposed to up to 80% of their lifetime of radiation before the age of 18 and it obviously just goes to show how important it is that we get sunglasses on our kids."